Formed 2003 Employees 101 (2012) | Jurisdiction United States Annual budget $0.2 billion (2012) | |
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Headquarters DHS Nebraska Avenue Complex, Washington D.C. Agency executive Katherine Brinsfield, MD, MPH Assistant Secretary | ||
The Office of Health Affairs (OHA) is a component within the United States Department of Homeland Security. OHA provides health and medical expertise in support of the Department's mission to prepare for, respond to, and recover from all hazards affecting the nation’s health security.
The Office of Health Affairs is led by the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Health Affairs, who is appointed by the President of the United States with confirmation by the United States Senate. The current Assistant Secretary is Katherine Brinsfield, MD, MPH. The Office of Health Affairs is led by an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Health Affairs, who is the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Homeland Security.
The Assistant Secretary serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security on medical and public health issues. OHA leads the Department’s workforce health protection and medical support activities. OHA also leads and coordinates the Department’s biological and chemical defense programs and provides medical and scientific expertise to support DHS preparedness and response efforts.